Valve Software boss Gabe Newell and Star Trek director JJ Abrams have hinted at collaborative projects, both in games and films, at the annual Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain (DICE) Summit in Las Vegas.

Half Life
Valve Software

Newell, the chief executive of the developers that make the Half Life game franchise, and Abrams, the director of the new Star Trek film - Star Trek into Darkness - were on stage together, engaging in what seemed like a normal conversation about the mechanics of their respective mediums. But then Newell suddenly said: "What we are doing here, we are recapitulating a series of conversations going on. We reached a point that we decided to do more than talk."

"We're super excited about that and we also want to talk about making movies, either a Portal movie or a Half-Life movie," Newell added, while Abrams said he had "an idea we have for a game that we'd like to work with Valve on".

"Valve is obviously one of the greatest minds and producers of games I've experienced. I've been to their offices. I like their culture, the way they think," he explained.

A potential collaboration between two of the, arguably, most creative minds in the sci-fi/entertainment space should have gamers chomping at their bits. It is interesting that Newell has spoken out now, though. He has reportedly turned down raft of offers from Hollywood.

"There was a whole bunch of meetings with people from Hollywood (to make a film on Half Life). Directors down there wanted to make the film, but the stories were just so bad. I mean, brutally, the worst. That is when Valve decided that they will make a film themselves," Newell explained in 2010.

Be that as it may though, this news has gaming fans excited. Twitter users expect the partnership to do very well.

Meanwhile, Abrams' Star Trek into Darkness releases in the US on 15 May (worldwide release is 17 May) and the 46-year-old is also expected to direct Star Wars: Episode VII. For a trailer of the film, click here.